By Uzma Ehtasham
Fresh reports emerging from Dhaka have injected a new and unsettling intensity into Bangladesh’s already fragile political moment. Claims that former prime minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed was involved in planning the killing of political opponents from exile have not only sharpened domestic tensions but also drawn India directly into the controversy. At a time when Bangladesh is preparing for a crucial general election, the episode has revived long-standing anxieties about political violence, external interference and the limits of regional diplomacy. The immediate trigger was the attempted assassination of political activist Usman Hadi in Dhaka, an attack that left him critically wounded and shocked a city already accustomed to political volatility. In response, the Bangladeshi government summoned India’s high commissioner, underlining the seriousness with which the incident is being treated.
Dhaka has formally demanded the extradition of suspects it says are linked to networks operating from Indian territory, arguing that the attack cannot be understood in isolation from broader cross-border dynamics. Investigators claim that Hadi was shot by a militant supporter of the Awami League, the party led for years by Sheikh Hasina. More controversially, authorities said Hadi had received threats from Indian phone numbers in the days leading up to the attack. While such details would need to withstand judicial scrutiny, they have already assumed political significance. For the government in Dhaka, they are presented as evidence of coordination beyond Bangladesh’s borders and of a deliberate attempt to intimidate political activists ahead of the polls. The allegations against Sheikh Hasina are grave. Bangladeshi officials accuse her of orchestrating terrorist-style operations from exile to influence the outcome of the next election.
They argue that India, by continuing to host the former leader since her removal from office, is effectively enabling efforts to destabilize Bangladesh’s political transition. The Modi-led government in New Delhi, by turning a blind eye, bears a heavy responsibility in what appears to be a targeted campaign against innocent civilians and the democratic process in Bangladesh. This unusually blunt language reflects a growing frustration in Dhaka, where repeated diplomatic engagement has failed to address what is seen as a persistent problem. Sheikh Hasina’s fall from power and subsequent flight to India marked a dramatic rupture in Bangladesh’s political life. Since then, a Bangladeshi court has sentenced her to death in a case related to crimes against humanity, a verdict her supporters dismiss as politically motivated.
The government, however, maintains that the ruling places her squarely outside the bounds of normal political contestation. In its view, she is not merely a former prime minister in exile but a convicted figure whose alleged actions now pose a direct threat to national security. Foreign media reports suggesting that the alleged plot against Usman Hadi was conceived with the election in mind have only deepened the sense of alarm. Dhaka claims that Awami League operatives based in India are planning and financing attacks inside Bangladesh as part of a broader campaign to spread fear and chaos. Whether these assertions are ultimately proven or not, their political impact is already evident. They have reinforced a narrative in which violence is portrayed as a calculated tool rather than a sporadic excess. For Bangladesh, this moment carries echoes of a painful past.
Political violence has long haunted its elections, undermining public trust and narrowing democratic space. Each new allegation of assassination plots or cross-border meddling risks normalizing coercion as a feature of political competition. That danger is particularly acute during a transition, when institutions are under strain and the stakes of electoral outcomes are especially high. The diplomatic fallout is equally significant. Relations between Bangladesh and India have historically been complex, shaped by geography, shared history and competing strategic interests. New Delhi’s role as host to Sheikh Hasina has now become a focal point of tension. From Dhaka’s perspective, India’s refusal to extradite or restrain her activities raises uncomfortable questions about sovereignty and non-interference.
From India’s side, there is likely concern about being drawn into Bangladesh’s internal political struggles and about the precedent that extradition might set. What complicates matters further is the absence of trust. Allegations of cross-border plots thrive in an environment where transparency is limited and communication strained. Without credible, independent investigations, competing narratives risk hardening into mutually exclusive truths. That outcome would serve neither country’s interests and would further destabilize a region already marked by political and economic uncertainty. At stake, however, is more than bilateral diplomacy. The credibility of Bangladesh’s electoral process hangs in the balance. If voters come to believe that violence and intimidation, whether domestic or foreign-backed, can shape political outcomes, faith in democratic mechanisms will erode further.
(The writer is a public health professional, journalist, and possesses expertise in health communication, having keen interest in national and international affairs, can be reached at uzma@metro-morning.com)
